Ecotasa to climb the Teide from 2026 | Society

Tenerife has undertaken an unprecedented transformation in its natural environment protection model. The president of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, announced during the second debate on the state of the island that, since January 1, the management of the Teide National Park is insular competition. “We want to take care of what is ours,” he said. Before the summer, the transfer decree will be completed from 2026 an ecotasa will be implemented for non -resident visitors who access the peak, whose income will be allocated entirely to conservation.

“Until a year ago there was no talk in Tenerife or ecotasas, or quotas, or electric shots, or environmental police. Today, many of those ideas are already a reality,” said Dávila, who stressed that sustainable mobility will be one of the keys to the new access model to Teide. “We are going to limit the load of vehicles with a public transport system with electric shots. To this more environmental agents and a new governing plan for use and management will be added that will be adapted to the reality of the park and the human pressure that supports.”

The president stressed that this strategy is not isolated, but part of a battery of more than a dozen active policies that are transforming the way of managing natural spaces in Tenerife. As an example, he mentioned the access system implemented in masca, with ecotasa, visitor control and mandatory public transport to descend the ravine. “It has reduced the pressure by half and raised 600,000 euros. Do you know how much do the Tenerife pay? Nothing. And most importantly: there are no rescue due to recklessness.”

Reduce impacts

He also announced a historical agreement with the employer of transport to reduce the size of the tourist bushes in areas such as Anaga and Masca, and establish a unique sense of circulation to avoid traffic jams and protect the environment. “Mobility is part of conservation. Less guaguas, more control and more respect for protected spaces,” he said.

In parallel, surveillance will be reinforced with the participation of the seprona, local and autonomous police and environmental agents. “Citizen collaboration is being fundamental to detect infractions. Therefore, we will announce a legal reform to harden the sanctions against those who threaten our natural heritage, something that the previous government did not even processed when the offenders were foreigners.”

At the service of conservation

Regarding the infrastructure, Dávila confirmed that the Altavista refuge will be reopened before the end of the year, after years of closing. “Remodeling works are already underway. The Teide deserves facilities up to it.” In addition, the Teide cable car, the first in the world that works with photovoltaic energy, will renew all its cabins in 2026.

The improvement of these infrastructure is not only a matter of technological modernization, but also security, visitor experience and sustainability. “We want Teide to offer a safe, modern and respectful experience with its ecological and patrimonial value. Uploading to the peak must be an orderly privilege, not a risk to the environment,” said Dávila.

Another outstanding measure is the expansion of the nursery Wolfredo Wilpret, which has doubled its ability to produce native species. “We are doing the greatest reforestation of Canarian pine in the history of Tenerife. Degraded areas such as La Rambla de Castro, La Caleta or Red Mountain will also be recovered,” he explained.

In the marine field, one works with the Spanish Institute of Oceanography to recover the grasslands of Sebadal and advance in the declaration of the marine reserves of Anaga and Teno-Rrasca. “We also want to protect what is not seen: the ocean,” he added.

Record budget

Dávila recalled that the highest environmental budget in island history has been approved, with 219 million euros, 27% more than in 2023. Part of these funds will be used to mitigate climate change with actions such as the Plan of the cookies, which will restore the coastal front, will renaturate the beach and recover wetlands. “It will be the first Climate Mitigation Plan of the Canary Islands,” he said. The initiative involves several councils of the Cabildo and represents a transverse work formula based on cooperation between areas.

In fire prevention, the Cabildo has activated a medianity plan, authorized grazing to reduce plant fuel and reactivated farms using the land bank. The renewal of the Prometheus operation has also been signed with defense to incorporate nightly helicopters. “We have opened new seals in Isora Guide and soon in Arona, with a deployment of 600 forest troops and new technical means,” he said.

In this area, the president announced the approval of a new public employment offer that will allow the incorporation of 52 new troops for extinction teams, reinforcing and stabilizing the specialized human resources in the fight against forest fires. “The protection of the mountain is also done with job stability and professionalization of the staff,” he said.

Centimo green

The president also announced the approval of the centuries Green, a rate that will allow up to 10 million euros per year for forest and climatic investments. “It will be a structural fund with which we can plan in the long term without depending exclusively on budgetary cycles. It is a firm commitment to stable financing of the fight against climate change.”

In terms of waste, 60 million euros will be invested, 34% more than in the last socialist mandate. “We have created ten new clean points and project three more. We treat 14% more waste separately and renew the transport fleet,” he explained. In addition, research projects are being promoted in collaboration with the University of La Laguna to value waste and promote circular economy. “The residue is a resource if it is managed with intelligence and innovation,” he said.

Water emergency

On the water, he recalled that the water emergency declared a year ago has allowed to accelerate 75 actions that already contribute 26,400 m³ additional daily and will allow reaching 63,000 in six months. “We are giving the greatest water response in the history of Tenerife. And we are doing it on time,” he said. The actions include the implementation of laptops, new connections between municipalities and improvements in the efficiency of promotions and distribution networks. “Water security is not a luxury. It is a condition for life, for the field and for economic development,” he said.

As for energy, he highlighted the award of emergency support power, the advance in the first geothermal polls and the expansion of energy communities. “Thanks to the investment effort, the environmental complex will be energetically self -sufficient this year and will begin to pour surpluses to the network. This is also sustainability.”

The commitment to clean energy also includes an insular network of electric recharge points for vehicles, with special attention to rural and tourist areas. Through the Energy Transition Office, the Cabildo is accompanying citizens, companies and municipalities in the impulse of local energy communities. “We are democratizing energy. We want anyone, in any corner of the island, can produce and share clean energy,” said Dávila.

Cecopin

In the field of emergencies, the president announced the reinforcement of the Cecopin with new technical and scientific positions, in addition to greater cooperation with the army and specialized bodies. “After summer we will perform an evacuation simulation due to volcanic risk in Garachico. Emergencies cannot be avoided, but manage. And that is what we are doing: prepare, train and be ready.”

Finally, Rosa Dávila wanted to go directly to citizens: “A year ago I promised that the protection of the environment would be a central axis of our mandate. Today, the measures speak for themselves. The facts are there. And they are because we believe that this land deserves everything.”